Having an online presence has been a fundamental way for companies all over the world to communicate their identity for many years. It provides a platform to display their values, objectives, clients and services to a global audience.
As we continue to navigate the global pandemic and encourage social distancing, more and more people are turning to the internet for their needs. As such, your website is more important than ever before in establishing your brand and identity, and by 2023 it will be your primary channel of communication with your customers. With this in mind, let us explore some website development trends you should consider incorporating in 2023.
Reduce Waiting Time
Customers have limited patience when it comes to waiting for content to load on your website. If it takes more than a second for anything to load, they are likely to abandon your site. Additionally, it is essential that users can easily navigate between different areas of your site.
This has always been a key part of UX, and we anticipate that 2023 will herald a new era of enhanced usability. Not only does this influence the user’s perception of the site, but also its ranking on search engine results. Generally, the higher the performance, the higher the ranking.
Take Advantage of Information
It is essential to monitor analytics data regularly to gain insight into the performance of your brand’s online presence. Doing so will enable you to identify which materials are successful and which require improvement. Additionally, you can analyse peak traffic times, average page views per session and which websites receive the most traffic.
It is possible to benefit from data by displaying it on your website in a user-friendly way. Customers are increasingly keen to gain insight into the companies they engage with, and visualizations such as charts, diagrams and infographics can be a great way to provide this information.
Make It Available
Now more than ever, it is important to bear diversity in mind. It is your responsibility to ensure that your content is accessible to those with various impairments. This will not only improve your search engine optimisation (SEO), but also enhance user satisfaction.
You may increase your website’s accessibility in many different ways, but here are just a few:
- Making your text and pictures stand out via the use of color and form contrast.
- Including prominent call-to-action buttons or other visual cues
- Make sure all pictures have alt tags.
- Facilitating easy navigation and usage
If you’re curious, here’s a comprehensive piece that contemplates why accessibility should be a top priority for your company.
Enhance Reaction Times and Systems
It is essential to ensure that customer queries are answered promptly and efficiently, as this encourages customers to remain engaged with your business. Your website should be user-friendly and enable visitors to easily submit their questions and view your responses in a timely manner.
Many businesses are now utilising AI-powered chatbots on their websites to respond to customer queries and address concerns. Not only do these provide a benefit to the website in general, but they also save time, which can be allocated to more advanced customer enquiries. In fact, by 2023 chatbots will be so commonplace that they will be an essential requirement.
Turn on Nighttime Mode
Dark Mode is not just about enhancing aesthetics; it can also improve the visibility of website components for those with visual impairments, reducing their energy expenditure and increasing accessibility.
It is no surprise that many well-known companies, such as Apple, Hubspot, WhatsApp and Instagram, have adopted the use of “night mode” recently. This trend is rapidly gaining popularity and is set to continue to grow in 2023.
Highly Customized Interactions
It is easy to become a faceless number online, however, it is important to take the time to provide a tailored experience to each user on your website. By taking into account individual preferences, users will feel more connected to and invested in your brand. Doing this will benefit your company’s reputation as well as create a positive user experience.
Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into your website can help you gain insights into your customer’s preferences. With the help of Machine Learning (ML), your website can be tailored to the individual user by providing suggestions based on previous search terms, reorganising page elements and providing alternative content. Similarly to services such as Netflix, AI can provide recommendations to your customers based on their viewing history and ratings.
Integrate Thrilling Extras
Total immersion can be highly beneficial, providing users with an enjoyable and immersive learning experience. Through the use of augmented reality, potential buyers can gain a ‘hands-on’ experience with a product, allowing them to ‘test out’ the product prior to purchase.
It is important to exercise caution when using details on the website. Avoid overwhelming visitors with unnecessary features that could slow down the website and impede their access to the desired information. Make sure each interactive element contributes to the overall user experience of the site.
Realistic Pictures
As users become increasingly more accustomed to digital environments that emulate real-world interactions, photographs can be used to accompany any visuals or animations to give the viewer a better understanding of the content. It is important to keep designs simple; photographs should be used in a way that stands out and avoids an overcomplicated layout.
Voice Control
It is difficult to envisage our lives without the presence of Alexa, Siri, and the other voice assistants. These tools simplify and enhance the process significantly. It is excellent news that you can now implement similar capabilities on your website. Voice chatbots and other voice activation features can make it simpler for customers to perform searches, find what they are searching for, and have an overall improved experience. It is likely that there will be a considerable rise in the prevalence of this trend over the course of next year.
As digital services continue to transform the way consumers interact with businesses, it is important to consider the potential of these services and how they can benefit your website. Looking ahead to 2023, staying ahead of the curve requires an understanding of which services are practical to implement.
